Fantasy football just as agonizing as the real thing

Wednesday

Dec 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 31, 2008 at 11:49 PM

The NFL runs a commercial during games showing the lament of what we assume are fantasy football fanatics who have had a "bad day” (or year). For many, including yours truly, it’s a commercial we can relate to.

Joey Baskerville

The NFL runs a commercial during games showing the lament of what we assume are fantasy football fanatics who have had a "bad day” (or year).

For many, including yours truly, it’s a commercial we can relate to.

There are millions of fantasy football players in the U.S. alone, and some of us take wins, losses and championships just as serious as we do when we root for our hometown teams.

Honestly, how many fantasy owners reading this column sat at home on Sunday and Mondays this regular season and pouted about your “guy” not getting the touches he needs because you’re 12 points behind in your semifinal?

Canadian recording artist Daniel Powter’s song “Bad Day” fits perfectly for the commercial — and was playing in my headphones while writing this column to set the mood — because those otherwise meaningless points can truly make or break one’s day or season.

In my case, the past two weeks ruined my long-awaited vacation. Well, that and a cold that reverted my voice back to that of a prepubescent child.

I’m sure there’s plenty of “war” stories that some of you, dear readers, are still smarting from this season. I empathize with you and would like to share a personal tale that might bring you to tears. Or not.

Eligible for two championships, finished with none

For the past three years, I’ve won at least one fantasy football championship. Heck, last year I won one against former and current Journal-Standard employees in a 12-team league (I made a trade for New England’s Tom Brady and Randy Moss, and the rest was history).

This year, though, was different. In two leagues with current and former college friends, I managed to advance to the semifinals and had a legitimate shot at playing in two championships.

I advanced to the championship in the “Goons-R-Us” league after defeating a player who previously was undefeated against me. I have Texans’ wide receiver Andre Johnson and Colts running back Dominic Rhodes to thank for that.

But in the “Untitled” league’s semifinal, I did the one thing every fantasy owner dreads ... I tied.

Thanks, Philadelphia kicker David Akers, for ruining my season with 12 points for field goals made. My opponent had the higher seed, so he advanced by default. He didn’t win anything.

I have quite a few more gripes about that tiebreaker, but I could fill up the sports section about that. Let’s just say, I would’ve beaten both that lucky opponent and the “champion” who defeated him the following title week.

And the worst thing about it is, I owned Chicago Bears’ running back Matt Forte in that league and had 29 receiving yards. Just like my beloved Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, I was one yard short of accomplishing my goal.

FYI for the fantasy illiterate: In most fantasy leagues, every 10 yards earns a running back or receiver one additional point.

Turns out, I came up empty-handed and wouldn’t win in either league. I have Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams’ four rushing touchdowns and 108 rushing yards against the New York Giants defense in Week 16 — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have head coaching interviews for this? — and poor defensive outings from both Tampa Bay and Denver against San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers to thank for my “Goons-R-Us” title defeat.

But at least I actually lost, so it’s not that disheartening.

I’m not bitter. I swear.

Why the fantasy craze to begin with?

On Sundays, I’m not always a happy camper. My mom routinely calls me when that fantasy win is on the line, and even though I love her, I can’t rush her off the phone quick enough. And by now, she knows why and always asks why people continue to follow something that seemingly makes them so miserable.

The answer is simple: Sports fans are drawn to misery, angst and overall dissatisfaction. As far as fantasy sports goes, the game allows fans to make the executive decisions with their own team that they otherwise couldn’t as a fan.

You can make sound draft decisions and get a lot of wins — something that Detroit Lions fans haven’t experienced in a long while. And every year, there’s a legit chance of winning it all, based on your week-to-week management of the team. Bragging rights against your best friend is also a benefit.

And while I’ve never put my fantasy interests over my two favorite teams’ interests (though I have owned players, specifically Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings and the Colts’ Joseph Addai), I’d never want to see those players succeed by defeating my favorite team. Even though I loved when Jennings scored points for me in the Packers’ loss to the Bears at Soldier Field this year.

At the end of the day, when your fantasy team loses, it almost is just as bad when your real team loses. And for fans with the fire and passion like myself, it hurts just as bad.

Joey Baskerville can be reached at Jbaskerville@journalstandard.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.